Display packaging for fruits or vegetables

ABSTRACT

This invention discloses a method and apparatus for packaging fruits or vegetables. The package comprises a reusable plastic food container, a lid for such container, and a layer of breathable transparent film. The container is placed on top of the lid, the fruits or vegetables are placed in the container, the assembly is wrapped with the transparent film, such that the edges overlap underneath the lid, and the overlapping edges of the film are heat sealed together. Once the package is unwrapped and the contents are used, the container can be used to store leftovers or other food products in a refrigerator, etc. The clear breathable transparent film allows prospective customers to clearly view the product inside. The film also allows ethylene and other gases emitted from the fruits or vegetables contained therein to escape, thereby maintaining freshness.

RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application is a divisional of application Ser. No.09/533,692, filed on Mar. 23, 2000.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to packaging of food products, and inparticular, to display packages for fresh fruits and vegetables.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] There is a need to display fresh fruits and vegetables inpackaging which make them attractive to prospective consumers in amarket setting. There is also a need to protect fresh fruits andvegetables from excess handling which can cause bruising and spoilageleading to short shelf-life.

[0004] Fresh fruits and vegetables such as cherry tomatoes, blueberriesand apricots are typically packaged in one-pint plastic clamshellcontainers, or in plastic wire mesh or cardboard baskets. These priorart containers reduce the amount of human handling, and allow for visualinspection of the contents. However, such containers are typicallydiscarded once the contents has been consumed, which is wasteful.

[0005] There is accordingly a need for a more ecologically friendly modeof packaging fresh fruits and vegetables for display.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The subject invention is directed to a display package,comprising a reusable food storage container placed on top of a lid forthe container, and a sheet of transparent, flexible, breathable materialoverwrapping and securing together the container and the lid, whereinonce the sheet is removed, the container and the lid may be usedtogether to form an airtight enclosure for storing various foodproducts.

[0007] One aspect of the invention is a display package for fruits andvegetables, comprising a container suitable for reuse as a fruit storagecontainer, the container having an open top and a capacity selected tocontain a predetermined amount of fruits or vegetables, a lid for thecontainer, the container being positioned on top of the lid, the lidbeing shaped to be capable of releasably sealably enclosing the top ofthe container, thereby providing an airtight enclosure for storingvarious food products, once the fruits or vegetables are removed fromthe container, and a sheet of flexible material sized for overwrappingthe container and the lid such edge portions of the sheet overlapunderneath the lid, the edge portions being coupled together so as tosecure the lid against the container during handling and display, thematerial having a composition which allows for visual inspection of thefruits or vegetables and escape of gases generated by the fruits orvegetables.

[0008] The sheet of material is preferably a clear breathable PVC film.The overlapping ends of the film are preferably heat sealed. Thecontainer and lid are preferably commercially available reusable foodstorage containers.

[0009] The subject invention also relates to a method for packagingfruits or vegetables, comprising the steps of:

[0010] (a) placing the fruits or vegetables in a container suitable foruse as a food storage container;

[0011] (b) placing the container on the top of a reusable lid for thecontainer;

[0012] (c) overwrapping the container and the lid with a sheet offlexible material sized to extend under and cover the bottom of the lid,the material being suitable to display the fruits or vegetables and toallow gases generated thereby to escape from the containers;

[0013] (d) folding the film underneath the lid such that edge portionsof the film overlap; and

[0014] (e) coupling the overlapping portions of the film together so asto secure the lid against the container during handling and display.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] For a better understanding of the present invention, and to showmore clearly how it may be carried out in practice, reference will nowbe made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0016]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a display package made inaccordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;

[0017]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the subject display package;

[0018]FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the container component of thepackage shown in FIG. 1;

[0019]FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the lid component of the subjectpackage; and

[0020]FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the lid enclosingthe container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0021] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, illustrated therein is a displaypackage 10 made in accordance with a preferred embodiment of theinvention. Package 10 comprises a plastic container 20 for holdingfruits or vegetables 25 such as cherry tomatoes, a lid 30 positionedunderneath the container 20, and a sheet of clear plastic film 40 foroverwrapping and securing together container 20 and lid 30.

[0022] As best shown in FIG. 2, container 20 has an open top 22 definedby rim 24 having a circumferential ridge 26, side walls 28 and closedbottom 32. Container 20 is selected to have a capacity for containing apredetermined amount of fruits or vegetables, typically one pint in thecase of cherry tomatoes 25.

[0023] Lid 30 is shaped to releasably enclose top 22 of container 20.Lid 30 comprises a circumferential groove 35 sized to fit over ridge 26of container 20, so as to provide an airtight seal between lid 30 andcontainer 20. Lid 30 also includes handle 37 which assists a use inremoving lid 30 from container 20.

[0024] Container 20 and lid 30 are preferably commercially availablereusable plastic food storage containers and lids, such as those made byZIPLOK, GLADWARE or TUPPERWARE. When lid 30 is placed on container 20,an airtight enclosure is created, which is suitable for storage ofleftovers or other food products. Container 20 and lid 30 are preferablymade of a microwave-safe plastic material.

[0025] Sheet of plastic film 40 is sized to fit over container 20 andlid 30 and to extend under and completely cover the bottom of the lidsuch that the edge portions 42 of film 40 overlap. Edge portions 42 arethen heat sealed, such that the film secures lid 30 and container 20together during handling and display. Alternatively, the edge portionsof film 40 could be gathered together and secured by a suitable closure.

[0026] Plastic film 40 is made of a clear material which enablesconsumers to view the contents of package 10 when it is on display in afruit market or a supermarket. Film 40 is preferably a PVC (polyvinylchloride) or other breathable film, which allows ethylene and othergases generated by cherry tomatoes or other fruits or vegetables toescape from container 20. Film 40 also inhibits bacteria from enteringcontainer 20, thereby slowing down the decay process. Alternatively, thefilm could be made of other plastic material having a high rate of gaspermeability, or the film could be a non-breathable plastic film havingperforations.

[0027] Referring now to FIGS. 3A, 3B and 4, once display package 10 ispurchased by a consumer, and film 40 and fruits or vegetables 25 areremoved, container 20 can be used together with lid 30 to storeleftovers or the like, instead of being thrown away. Leftovers or otherfood products 45 can be stored in a conventional fashion, by placingthem in container 20, and positioning lid 30 in place on container 20,by snapping ridge 26 of container 20 into groove 35 of lid 30.

[0028] Display package 10 is preferably assembled using a packagewrapping machine. After container 20 is hand-loaded with fruits orvegetables, filled container 20 is placed on top of lid 30 on a conveyorbelt, which moves the filled container/lid sub-assembly into an elevatorstation. An elevator then pushes this sub-assembly up into a film web,thereby stretching the film over the sides of the container and the lid.The film is then folded underneath lid 30 by movable underfolders, andthe film is cut to size by knives, such that the edges of film 40overlap underneath lid 30. The assembly is then placed on a hotplate,where the overlapping edge portions 42 of film 40 are heat sealedtogether. Alternatively, display package 10 could be hand assembled.

[0029] While the material used to overwrap and secure the container tothe lid is preferably a plastic film, it could comprise a plastic meshbag secured by a bread clip or wire clip. Also, while the drawingsdepict a round food storage container suitable for holding about a pintof cherry tomatoes, the container could be larger or smaller, and itneed not be round. For example, the container could be a largercontainer sized to hold two pounds of kiwi fruit, or a square plasticsandwich container sized to hold a twin pack of tomatoes.

[0030] It should therefore be apparent to persons skilled in the artthat various modifications and adaptations of the preferred embodimentsdescribed herein are possible without departure from the presentinvention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims.

I claim:
 1. A method for packaging fruits or vegetables, comprising thesteps of: (a) placing the fruits or vegetables in a container suitablefor reuse as a food storage container; (b) placing the container on thetop of a reusable lid for the container; (c) overwrapping the containerand the lid with a sheet of flexible material sized to extend under andcover the bottom of the lid, the material being suitable to display thefruits or vegetables and to allow gases generated thereby to escape fromthe container; (d) folding the sheet underneath the lid such that edgeportions thereof overlap; and (e) coupling the overlapping portionstogether so as to secure the lid against the container during handlingand display.
 2. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the materialcomprises a breathable plastic film.
 3. The method defined in claim 2,wherein the overlapping portions of the film are heat sealed together.4. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the container and lid comprisea commercially available reusable plastic food storage container andlid.